ALL BALTICS 2017 – Lithuania – Latvia – Estonia, 11 days

Lithuania – Latvia – Estonia, 11 days

11-days (incl. arrival and departure) motorcycle tour around the Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Tour starts and ends in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Total distance about 3000 km, mostly on paved roads.
Visits to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and other sightseeings of the region, many of them lying off standard tourist track: medieval castle of Trakai, Neman valley, former Soviet missile base, Livonian Swiss, Estonian Post road, Riga Motormuseum.
Tourists are provided with Suzuki DL650 V-strom L2 or Honda XL700VA Transalp motorbikes equipped with top-cases, high windshields, heated grips.
You can take part on Your own motobike.
Accommodation in 3-4* hotels and village guesthouses (single accommodation as a standard).
The tour is led by Dmitri Rittschik (Stoneheadbikes Tour Leader), English/German speaking experienced tour guide, motorcycle traveler and specialist on region’s history and culture.
Price of the tour – from 1690 EUR.
Minimum number of the guests – 4. With less guests tour starts against surcharge.

Tour dates in season 2017:July 22 – August 1.

3000 km of history and tradition in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia!

Day 1

Arrival, transfer from the airport to a 4* hotel in center of Vilnius. Acquaintance with guide and fellows moto-tourists.

Day 2

Short tour around Vilnius. Highlights: Trakai castle, river driven ferry across Neris, city tour in Old City of Vilnius. Same accommodation, 150 km/100 mi.

Day 3

Ride from Vilnius to the Western Lithuania. Highlights: Old city of Kaunas, Valley of castles along the Neman river. Finish near Šilutė. 350 km/220 mi.

Day 4

Ride the Lithuanian lowland and shore of the Curinian bay. Highlights: Klaipeda, fishermens’ village Mingė, Ventės lighthouse, and the Cold War Museum in the former Soviet nuclear missile base. 280 km/170 mi. Same accommodation.

The Baltic States consist of three countries of Europe – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and are often regarded geografically, historically and culturally as one region. They were once part of the Soviet Union, but they were among the first to break away in 1990—91.

Geographically, the three Baltic States have much in common. Forests and lakes cover a vast amount of the countryside; there are 2,800 lakes in Lithuania alone, many of them glacial. This landscape defines the roads of the region: winding, going up and down in hilly areas and straight to the horizon in the lowlands closer to the sea.

The region is very historical, with ancient castles and hill forts, some dating back to the 1200s. Region was a scenery of long confrontation between local people and the Teutonic Knights in medieval ages and between western and eastern European empires in the 16-20 centuries. The culture of the region combines local traditions with Polish, Russian, German and Scandinavian influences.

All three Baltic States are members of European Union (since 2004) and Schengen area (since 2007).

Deposit 500 EUR for the motorcycle, returnable if motorcycle returned without damages caused by an accident or carelessness of the rider.

When coming on Your own motorbike, please ask for special price.

To secure the participation 30% advance payment at least 60 days before the tour starts is required.
Rest amount should be paid on the start of the tour.
Cancellation fees: 60-30 days 200 €, 30-15 days 350 €, less than 15 days 30% of the tour price.
Refundable deposit for the motorbikes is to be paid on receiving the motorbike.
Deposit 500 € for the motorcycle, refundable if motorcycle returned without damages caused by accident or carelessness of the rider.

What’s included?

Airport transfer.
9 days of rental of a Honda XL 700V Transalp or Suzuki DL650 V-Strom L2 (surcharge) motorbike.
Motorbike insurance according to the European Union regulation.
10 nights at 3-4* hotels and “village tourism” guesthouses, single accommodation as standard.
10 breakfasts.
2 dinners (days 3 and 4)
Guidance and support during the whole tour (English or German).
Ferry fees.
Museum entrance tickets, eco-taxes, parking fees.
Foto/Video made by the guide during the tour.
Rain suit.

What’s not included?

Tickets to and from Vilnius, Lithuania.
Fuel.
Lunches on the way, dinners (if not mentioned as included. We will recommend restaurants with national and European cuisine).
Tips.
Traveller’s Medical insurance.
Souvenirs etc.

MOTORBIKES

We provide our guests with motorbikes Suzuki DL650 V-Strom and Honda XL700 V Transalp ABS. Friendly and easy to manage, these motorbikes have economical engines with high torque, excellent wind protection, and comfortable seats and are fit for a long-distance ride. Motorbikes are equipped with top-cases, touring windshields, heated handgrips, and engine guards.

DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1

Arrival, transfer from the airport to a 4* hotel in center of Vilnius. Aquaintance with guide and fellows moto-tourists, walk through Vilnius’ Old town.

Day 2

After the breakfast and short briefing we will go on a small tour around Vilnius. We will visit the medieval Trakai castle, once the residence of mighty Lithuanian dukes, the ancient capital of Lithuania Kernavė, and cross the Neris river on the ferry driven by the river itself. After lunch – city tour in Old Vilnius. Accommodation in the same guesthouse.

Day 3

The route of the second day’s travel leads us to the West, to the shore of the Baltic sea. We will ride a winding road between hills and lakes, reach Kaunas, and after lunch we continue on the road in the valley of Neman.
In the evening we will reach the guesthouse of the hunter naed Arūnas. National Lithuanian cuisine and homemade wine will be a nice accent of this day. Horse riding and shooting range are available for the guests (pay on spot).

Day 4

This day start with a ride to the Ventės Cape, allowing a great look on the Curonian spit. Centuries of common efforts of the wind, the stream of the Neman and the people living here resulted in a very special landscape combining woods, sand dunes and water, not to mention the endless sky above. On our way to the cape we visit a village named Mingė, where the main street is the river and the main vehicle is a boat. After that we arrive in Klaipeda, one of the oldest havens of the Baltics. Then we will visit the site of the former Soviet nuclear missile base, hidden in the forests of Samogitia. Finally, we return to our guesthouse.

Day 5

We will spend the whole day on the road. We start heading north along the seashore and reach Liepaja, the second biggest seaport in Latvija. After a coffee break, we will continue along the seashore to the Kolka cape, turn east and a scenic road will bring us to a famous sea resort Jurmala. We pass Riga, the capital of Latvia, crossing the Daugava river along a famous cable-stayed bridge, and end our day in a country hotel near medieval Sigulda, in a small town which stands on the hills above the Gauja river. Accomodation in a 3* hotel.

Day 6

Today we explore area of Sigulda, which is called “Livonian Switzerland” for its high hills and deep valleys. Sigulda was founded at the beginning of the 13th century by Livonian knights. Now Sigulda is famous for its winter-sports center, especially bobsleigh. Latvian bobsleigh teams training here win high places at every winter Olympics. We will also visit the Turaida castle and a sand cave, where the walls are covered with inscriptions; the oldest of them dates back to the 17th century (the date is written, you’ll have to find it yourself, no prompting!) We will also hear a local tragic love story of Turaida Rose, a young beauty that was killed in this cave in 1620. Accommodation in the same hotel.

Day 7

We leave Sigulda early in the morning and proceed to the North, making a short stop in Cesis to see the castle founded in 1208, which served as a residence of the Livonian Order’s Master for about 300 years; then we will ride along the historical Post road (Postitee), climb the highest hill of the Baltic states and visit the Estonian road museum. Finish in Tartu, home of one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe, a buzzin ciyžty of students and youth. Accommodation in a 3* hote in city center.

Day 8

Ride along the Peipsi lake and the winding roads of Lahemaa National park. We will reach the nordest point of our tour and visit the waterfall of Jägala, leaving enough time for a city tour in Old Tallinn. Accommodation in a 4* hotel in center of Tallinn.

Day 9

We start this route riding the winding roads of coastal Estonia. Then we will go along the Via Baltica, of of the main European corridors linking Warsaw to Helsinki. Arrival in Riga, accommodation at a 3* motorcycle friendly hotel. City tour in Riga.

Day 10

The last day of our tour we will start with visit to Riga’s Motormuseum, famous for its unique collection of cars and motorcycles. Then we will continue to Vilnius, using local roads with little traffic. Another accent of the day: we will ride the famous “Berzhinka”, the road which was used as rally special stage. Accommodation in a 4* hotel in the center of Vilnius.

Day 11

Departure. Depending upon the departure time we can organize some sightseeing activities in Vilnius and around.

USEFUL INFO

Skills required:

This tour is not a sport event. We do nothing what goes beyond the rules of the road. All roads we go are paved, exception – several short sections of gravel roads, which we pass carefully on low speed (totally about 15 km during the whole tour). Cruising speed is about 90-110 km/h, going down to 60-80 km/h on local winding roads. Average day distance is about 200-350 km (exception Day 5, distance about 550 km, can be shortened on the request of the group). Rainy weather and side wind is possible.

What to take with you?

We suggest bringing your riding clothes, which you are used to (helmet is mandatory). Shoes has to be suitable for walking short distances and climbing the staircases. Take a sweater and a light jacket, since it can be rather cold in the evenings.

Safety and environment

Life and traveling in Baltic states are rather safe, but still it doesn’t mean that You can leave Your purse on the table in restaurant or helmet on the tank of Your bike. Traffic is well-ordered and even unhurried. Road pavement is mostly of good quality. Credit cards are accepted practically everywhere, but keeping some amount of cash is always recommended.

Entering the Baltic States.

To enter Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia EU citizens and citizens of most European countries require only ID-card. US and Canadian citizens require a valid passport.

TOUR MAP

To know more or in case of any queries left, please write to info@stoneheadbikes or call Harry at +918800371553 or +911165371553.

To reserve your seats, you need to make the advance payment of 10000 INR using the below mentioned payment links:
Click HERE (for Indian Nationals)
Click HERE (for Foreign Nationals).